OCEA launches Ukraine’s first fast patrol boat 98
Ukraine is set to receive its first FPB 98, pictured here as part of Suriname's coast guard. (Photo: OCEA)
French shipbuilder, OCEA, has launched the first Ukrainian FPB 98, with 19 more still expected.
OCEA has launched the BG201, the first OCEA Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) 98 MKI, during a ceremony on 9 December at the OCEA site in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.
The contract was initially announced as a result of an intergovernmental agreement between France and Ukraine in November 2019 to support maritime safety and security in Ukraine.
OCEA won the international consultation launched by the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior and gained the contract for a total of 20 patrol vessels.
Five of the 20 vessels will be built by Nibulon Shipyard, in Mylokaiv, Ukraine. The fleet is accompanied by a set of services including crew training, ship maintenance and technical assistance during the warranty phase.
The first vessel is set to arrive in Odessa, Ukraine, next spring. The vessels are planned to be deployed in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
The FPB 98 MKI vessels are designed to be able to operate from one to two weeks within an EEZ.
They are suitable for a range of missions including, territorial and deep-sea surveillance operations, smuggling and illegal immigration control, control of vessels at sea, SAR, natural resources and blue economy protection and protecting sovereignty.
Ukrainian sovereignty has been a hot topic recently, as there are reports of a massive Russian military build-up along the border. The Ukrainian military has been enlarged in response, with two Island-class patrol boats arriving in November.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Navy to conduct an experimentation campaign with emerging tech in 2026 and 2027]()
US Navy to conduct an experimentation campaign with emerging tech in 2026 and 2027
The Technology Operational Experimentation Events will inform future requirements as the US Navy looks for innovative solutions across three key operational domains.
-
![Future Canadian Continental Defence Corvette will provide “Halifax-equivalent capabilities”]()
Future Canadian Continental Defence Corvette will provide “Halifax-equivalent capabilities”
Although the CDC project is still in its early stages, the Canadian Department of National Defence already has some requirements for the future platforms.
-
![US Navy to acquire micro-uncrewed underwater vehicles for ISR and coastal data collection]()
US Navy to acquire micro-uncrewed underwater vehicles for ISR and coastal data collection
The Naval Supply Systems Command is seeking authorised resellers of JaiaBot uncrewed underwater vehicles and multivehicle pods. The platforms will support undergraduate education at the US Naval Academy.
